Quiet Wins, Funky Lots, and Learning to Let Go

🧘‍♀️ The Beauty of a Boring Week (Personal Life)

This past week was, in a word, uneventful—and it was glorious. I didn’t board a plane, host a dinner party, or run around trying to do it all. Instead, I got to live a little slower, pay attention to the small stuff, and even have a few perspective-shifting moments that I’m still chewing on.

One of those moments came courtesy of Sterling, my younger son. At his baseball game, he got a solid hit (go, Sterling!) but was tagged out at second base. When he came back to the dugout, I saw that familiar cocktail of watery eyes, flushed cheeks, and hard breaths. I immediately assumed he was upset because he felt like he let his team down. Classic projection. I know that feeling all too well—measuring your worth by how others feel about you. But when I asked him about it later, he simply said: “I just wanted to keep playing.”

Whew. Cue the punch to the gut and then a hug for the heart. He wasn’t embarrassed. He wasn’t guilt-ridden. He was just disappointed. For himself. And honestly? I was proud of him and a little envious. That moment helped me realize how often I confuse disappointing others with disappointment itself. It’s a habit rooted way back in childhood—but now, maybe, I can start untangling it.

Sterling, unknowingly, reminded me that self-worth isn’t determined by applause or critique—it’s grounded in effort, presence, and heart. I hope he keeps that inner compass intact as he grows. And I hope I keep learning from it.

In brighter, saltier news, Tag and I officially booked our trip to Cabo for a wedding on a yacht (fancy, right?). We’re turning it into a week-long getaway—our first solo trip since our delayed honeymoon to Curaçao over a decade ago. I’m already dreaming of toes in the sand and tacos in both hands.

After Cabo, we’ll be jetting off to Sweden for my sister’s wedding. Fun fact: when she first brought her fiancé to visit us eight years ago, I was like, “Who is this guy?” Turns out, he’s the guy. Now he’s family—and conveniently, he has family in Croatia. I’m not saying I’m scheming for a stay… but I’m definitely scheming for a stay. (Also, Game of Thrones fans: you already know why Croatia is on the bucket list.)

And finally, our BookBabes club picked My Friends by Fredrik Backman as our next read. He’s Swedish too. Clearly, Sweden is having a moment in my life.

🏡 From Open Houses to Funky Lots (Real Estate Life)

While the personal side of my week was calm and reflective, real estate kept things interesting (as always). I had a closing with the kind of clients that make you love this job—sweet, smart, and totally unfazed by tradition. They decided to skip the big wedding and elope instead. Their splurge? A house. Which, in my opinion, is way more fun than chair covers and seating charts.

I’m now trying to hook them up with a friend of mine who has a sailboat so they can tie the knot in the most Colorado way possible—on Lake Dillon, surrounded by mountains and fresh air. Ten out of ten support this plan.

I also hosted a jam-packed open house at a new Evergreen listing. We had 20+ groups come through over the weekend, and Kamper (our Bernedoodle) stole the show in the video tour—he’s basically my unofficial co-listing agent now.

The house itself? It’s got some quirks, sure—but it’s also got a ton going for it. Much of the interior and exterior is in solid shape with new windows, a Class 4 roof, two updated bathrooms, and newer appliances. The areas that need the most love are the decks and the yard, but that’s about it. And we’re not just saying that—we’ve got an inspection report to back it up. With the right buyer who sees the potential, this place is a hidden gem waiting to shine. Especially considering that every other single family home in Evergreen under $625,000 comes on an acre or less.

Meanwhile, I’m prepping another listing for a past client who’s done a lot of work on their home. It’s in a hot neighborhood, and I’m eager to see how it performs. That said, the market is… weird right now.

Buyers are definitely out there, but they’re moving slower and being more selective. The current pace is about 1–2 showings a week if your home is priced correctly. Overprice it? Crickets. (Open houses sadly don’t count—ask me how I know.)

Across the Denver metro area, data is showing flat growth—0% to be exact—which actually beats some places like Punta Gorda, FL, which saw a 9% drop. Certain markets are still booming, but others are sliding into buyer-friendly territory. For those of us in the Colorado foothills, it’s a tale of micro-markets. One neighborhood is hot, the next is not.

If you want a cheat code for predicting what’s coming—watch Florida, Arizona, and Texas. Those states are usually a few months ahead of us in terms of trends. Right now, they’re sending up some early warning flares.

So, sellers: be strategic and price ahead of the market. Buyers: if you’re shopping for your forever home, this could be your moment.

Until next week—
Whether you’re checking in on your own emotional defaults or checking out mountain homes, I hope you find something this week that reminds you of what really matters. Like tacos. Or a kid just wanting to keep playing.